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Monday, September 25, 2006

Treasurer candidate Radogno shoots at Giannoulias' ethics plan

Sen. Christine Radogno: What he didn’t say, though, is that he [Alexi Giannoulias] will take contributions from executives who work for banks. So I think it’s a distinction without a difference. He’s saying, “I won’t take it from an institution, but I will take it from the executives and the people who work for banks, which is, in fact, where a large portion of his campaign funding has come from.” *****************************************Jeff Berkowitz: Well, let me make that proposal. We’ll make it to him [Alexi Giannoulias] when he comes on. [Ed. Note: If he comes on our show, that is; Alexi scheduled and cancelled two appearances on Public Affairs in his contested primary; After repeated additional invitations for him to appear on "Public Affairs," Alexi told me a few days before this taping of Sen. Radogno that he would call me to meet and discuss his appearing on our show. Subsequent calls from Public Affairs to Alexi and his campaign manager have gone unreturned. The Sep. 10 Public Affairs taping of Sen. Radogno was her second as the Republican nominee for State Treasurerand her fourth appearance on the show]. **************************************** "Public Affairs," is featuring Christine Radogno, State Senator and Republican candidate for State Treasurer, ; tonight [Sep. 25] through-out the City of Chicago on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21 at 8:30 pm; And, All of the Time [24/7] on the "Public Affairs" podcast page on your computer [Watch Radogno, Obama, McCain, Peraica, Stroger, Blagojevich, Topinka and many, many others here]. ****************************************************************Next week's suburban edition of Public Affairs features press conferences with 6th CD candidates Major Tammy Duckworth [D-Hoffman Estates] and State Sen. Peter Roskam [R-Wheaton]. ************************************************* The "Public Affairs," podcast page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," including this week's suburban show with 27th Senate District candidates Peter Gutzmer [D-Hoffman Estates] and Matt Murphy [R-Palatine] and 8th CD candidates Bean, McSweeney and Scheurer and many, many more on our video podcast page[Watch here]. ***************************************************A partial transcript and more about the show with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno is included here and another partial transcript is included, below.******************************************************Jeff Berkowitz: …Alexi said [on At Issue, September 10] that he has a new Ethics Plan and he says he’s not going to take any campaign contributions from banks and he said his opponent, Christine Radogno, does. He said “she does and she will.” Did he get that right?

Sen. Christine Radogno: What he didn’t say, though, is that he will take contributions from executives who work for banks. So I think it’s a distinction without a difference. He’s saying, “I won’t take it from an institution, but I will take it from the executives and the people who work for banks, which is, in fact, where a large portion of his campaign funding has come from.”

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that right? From individuals at Broadway Bank [his family’s bank] or other banks?

Sen. Christine Radogno: Both. So, with respect to my own situation, who I accept contributions from—again, I have been in the Senate ten years, and I have never categorically excluded any group from making contributions. I have received some contributions, over my time in office, from banks. That has not accelerated during this particular campaign, but I have received some contributions from banks, as well as from healthcare operators, transportation entities, and all kinds of different entities that we generally raise money from.

Jeff Berkowitz: But if he would go farther and say he would not take contributions—not just from the entity, from the bank, but also from the employees, or officers or directors of the banks, then would you say he’s got a point?

Sen. Christine Radogno: Then I would say that that’s a very different proposal from what he laid out, because what he did is sort of say, “I’m not going to, but by the way, I’ll take it from the employees.”

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, let me make that proposal. We’ll make it to him [Alexi Giannoulias] when he comes on. [Ed. Note: If he comes on our show, that is; Alexi scheduled and cancelled two appearances on Public Affairs in his contested primary; After repeated additional invitations for him to appear on "Public Affairs," Alexi told Public Affairs a few days before this taping of Sen. Radogno that he would call Berkowitz to meet and discuss his appearing on our show. Subsequent calls from Public Affairs to Alexi and his campaign manager have gone unreturned . The Sep. 10 Public Affairs taping of Sen. Radogno was her second as the Republican nominee for State Treasurer and her fourth appearance on the show].

Sen. Christine Radogno: Okay.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why not do that, irrespective of what Alexi does, why not say, “I, Christine Radogno, am not going to be tainted at all. I’m not going to take any money from banks, because the Treasurer has important relationships with those entities in that industry, the banking industry. No money from banks, no money from directors, officers, employees.”

Sen. Christine Radogno: No. I will not categorically exclude anyone from contributing, as long as there’s full transparency in the operations that go on within the office. For example, if there were to be a no-bid contract with a bank, I would then not accept any contribution from them. But the way it works in the Treasurer’s office is the Treasurer actually posts the interest rate that they want to receive for the taxpayer dollars, and then any bank that can provide that interest rate, along with the appropriate collateralization, is entitled to those deposits. So there is no-

Sen. Christine Radogno: That they want to receive [from Banks for deposits from the Treasurer’s office].

Jeff Berkowitz: And any bank can speak up and say, “I’ll take that,” and they [the State Treasurer’s office] splits it equally among all banks?

Sen. Christine Radogno: Right. Relative to their collateral, their ability to handle the deposits.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not so fast. That gives you some leeway, so the Treasurer can say, okay, this bank has better collateral, better this, better that, and they can favor one bank over another. And they don’t have to give any reasons, do they?

Sen. Christine Radogno: No. If you provide the interest rate, you get the deposits.

Jeff Berkowitz: You do? Okay. So none of those qualifications you were giving about collateral, experience, and so forth--

Sen. Christine Radogno: Well, everyone has the same requirements for collateral. It’s not an issue.

Sen. Christine Radogno: It’s in excess of a hundred. I don’t know the number.

Jeff Berkowitz: And you’re saying it’s the equivalent of a bid contract. In this case, it’s the maximum [interest rate that is offered] ?

Sen. Christine Radogno: You meet the criteria.

Jeff Berkowitz: Whoever steps up and wants to pay that level of interest or more,”we’ll deal with you.”

Sen. Christine Radogno: There’s no “or more.” It’s that level of interest [payment]. Because if you are starting to say, “Well, then give me a little more-- then you do get into an issue of ‘could there be favoritism.’ ” There is an [interest] rate set out. If you meet the criteria, you get the deposit.

Jeff Berkowitz: You get the deposit? But, is it equal? Is there a certain amount that the state has to deposit each day and then it divides it equally?

Sen. Christine Radogno: There is a limit for any bank. There is a formula. It’s pretty formulaic. So, I think it is not as big of an issue as some people would like to make it. ************************************************From tonight’s [Sep. 25] City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs with Republican Candidate for State Treasurer and State Senator Christine Radogno.The program, recorded on September 10, 2006 airs through-out the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and can be viewed anytime on your computer[Watch here]. *****************************Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here]. ****************************************************Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com******************